Original Article

PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES FOR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

DOREY
et al.

Associate Editor
Michael G. Wyllie
Editorial Board
Ian Eardley, UK
Jean Fourcroy, USA
Sidney Glina, Brazil
Julia Heiman, USA
Chris McMahon, Australia
Bob Millar, UK
Alvaro Morales, Canada
Michael Perelman, USA
Marcel Waldinger, Netherlands

Pelvic floor exercises for erectile

dysfunction
GRACE DOREY, MARK J. SPEAKMAN*, ROGER C.L. FENELEY*,
ANNETTE SWINKELS* and CHRISTOPHER D.R. DUNN*
The Somerset Nuffield Hospital, Taunton, and *University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
Accepted for publication 5 April 2005

OBJECTIVE

CONCLUSION

To examine the role of pelvic floor exercises as

a way of restoring erectile function in men
with erectile dysfunction.

This study suggests that pelvic floor exercises

should be considered as a first-line approach
for men seeking long-term resolution of their
erectile dysfunction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 55 men aged > 20 years who had
experienced erectile dysfunction for
6 months were recruited for a randomized
controlled study with a cross-over arm. The
men were treated with either pelvic floor
muscle exercises (taught by a physiotherapist)
with biofeedback and lifestyle changes
(intervention group) or they were advised on
lifestyle changes only (control group). Control
patients who did not respond after 3 months
were treated with the intervention. All men
were given home exercises for a further
3 months. Outcomes were measured using
the International Index of Erectile Function
(IIEF), anal pressure measurements and
independent (blinded) assessments.
RESULTS
After 3 months, the erectile function of men
in the intervention group was significantly
better than in the control group (P < 0.001).
Control patients who were given the
intervention also significantly improved
3 months later (P < 0.001). After 6 months,
blind assessment showed that 40% of men
had regained normal erectile function, 35.5%
improved but 24.5% failed to improve.

2 0 0 5 B J U I N T E R N A T I O N A L | 9 6 , 5 9 5 5 9 7 | doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2005.05690.x

KEYWORDS
pelvic floor exercises, physiotherapy, erectile
dysfunction, bulbocavernosus muscle,
ischiocavernosus muscle

INTRODUCTION
Pelvic floor exercises are very effective in
treating erectile dysfunction [1,2]. The
ischiocavernosus and bulbocavernosus
muscles are superficial pelvic floor muscles
that are active during erection and which
enhance rigidity. The bulbocavernosus muscle
encircles 3350% of the base of the penis and
has three functions: it is responsible for
preventing blood from escaping during an
erection by exerting pressure on the deep
dorsal vein; it is active and pumps during
ejaculation; and it empties the bulbar urethra
by reflex action after micturition.
The aim of the present study was to examine
the role of pelvic floor muscle exercises
(focusing on the bulbocavernosus and
ischiocavernosus muscles) as a key to
restoring erectile function.
595

D O R E Y ET AL.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

FIG. 1. The algorithm of the randomized controlled trial with cross-over arm.

In all, 55 men aged > 20 years who had

experienced erectile dysfunction for
6 months were recruited for a randomized
controlled study with a cross-over arm. Men
with a low testosterone level, urological
abnormalities, previous prostate surgery
(except TURP), and men with a neurological
deficit were excluded from the study.
The study was conducted at The Somerset
Nuffield Hospital, Taunton, and 55 men
meeting the inclusion criteria were
randomized to receive either pelvic floor
muscle exercises enhanced by manometric
biofeedback and lifestyle changes
(intervention group, 28 men) or lifestyle
changes only (controls, 27). The lifestyle
changes consisted of advice on reducing
alcohol consumption, stopping smoking,
reducing weight, getting fit and avoiding
bicycle saddle pressure. Outcomes were
measured by the validated erectile function
domain of the International Index of Erectile
Function (IIEF), anal pressure measurements,
and an independent assessor who was
unaware of the patient grouping.
The pelvic floor exercises were taught by a
skilled physiotherapist who instructed the
men to tighten their pelvic floor muscles as
strongly as possible (as if to prevent flatus
from escaping), to gain muscle hypertrophy.
During pelvic floor muscle training attention
was placed on the ability to retract the penis
and lift the scrotum, to make sure the
bulbocavernosus and ischiocavernosus
muscles were working strongly. Emphasis
was placed on gaining a few maximum
contractions (three when lying, three sitting,
and three standing) twice daily rather than
prolonged repetitions. Some submaximal
pelvic floor work was advised while walking,
to increase muscle endurance. Men were also
taught to tighten their pelvic floor muscles
strongly after voiding urine whilst still poised
over the toilet, as a way of working the
bulbocavernosus muscle to eliminate the
urine from the bulbar urethra. Any patients
who did not improve in the control group
were switched to the intervention group, as
shown by the cross-over study design (Fig. 1).
RESULTS
After 3 months, erectile function did not
improve in the control group but improved
significantly in the intervention group (MannWhitney independent samples test;
P < 0.001). At this time, the men in the control
596

Recruitment
(n = 56)

Randomization
(n = 55)

Baseline assessment
Intervention group (n = 28)
Intervention

3-month assessment
Intervention group (n = 25)

Home exercises

6-month assessment
Intervention group (n = 17)

Baseline assessment
Control group (n = 27)
Control

3-month assessment
Control group (n = 25)

Intervention

6-month assessment
Control group (n = 22)

Home exercises

9-month assessment
Control group (n = 16)

group were switched to the intervention

group and their erectile function improved
significantly when assessed 3 months later
(paired t test; P < 0.001). Both groups then
performed home exercises for a further
3 months and showed further, albeit slight,
improvements.
The independent blind assessment showed
that 40% of men had regained normal erectile
function, 35.5% improved and 24.5% failed
to improve after 6 months. The study
also showed that 65.5% of the men had
postmicturition dribble after they had left the
toilet. Pelvic floor exercises significantly cured
this after-dribble (Wilcoxon Signed Ranks
test; P < 0.001) [3]. The study findings are
summarized in Fig. 2.
DISCUSSION
The present findings show that pelvic floor
muscle exercises can improve erectile

function. Men who improved reported the

return of an erection on waking, which was
evident a few weeks before gaining an
erection sufficient for vaginal intercourse.
However, not all the men improved; these
men generally had other comorbidities, e.g.
cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis,
diabetes, and an excessive alcohol intake.
Analysis of data showed that younger men
improved more than older men, and men
taking antihypertensive medication improved
less than men who were not.
We were surprised by the lack of improvement
in the group using lifestyle changes only,
which was not in agreement with previous
reports. It is possible that 3 months was too
short to make a difference. It might also be
that reducing alcohol levels, quitting smoking,
reducing weight, getting fit and avoiding
saddle pressure takes > 3 months to improve
erectile function. It would have been ethically
wrong to follow the lifestyle-change group

2005 BJU INTERNATIONAL

PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES FOR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

prescribed. A suggested management

pathway for men with erectile dysfunction is
shown in Fig. 3.

40
Mean erectile function domain score of the IIEF

FIG. 2.
The mean erectile function
domain scores of the IIEF for both
groups at each assessment
(baseline, open bars; 3 months,
green bars; 6 months, light green
bars; 9 months, red bars). The
green arrow shows the lifestyle
change, the red arrow the
intervention and the blue arrows
the home-exercise groups. The box
represents the interquartile range,
the central line the median, and
the bars the SD.

35
*

30

The exercises used in the present study are

described in a book entitled Use it or lose it!,
that gives self-help guidance for men [5]. The
advice is easy to follow and places emphasis
on gaining a maximum contraction to restore
muscle function. A video entitled Mens
Health Issues: Erectile Dysfunction and Postmicturition Dribble also gives explicit
instructions and shows a live model
performing these exercises [6].

25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
N=

17

17 17 17
16
Intervention
Sample group

16 16
Control

16

None declared.

REFERENCES
FIG. 3. A suggested algorithm for treating erectile
dysfunction.

FIRST-LINE TREATMENT
Testosterone assay
Medication review
Pelvic floor exercises

SECOND-LINE TREATMENT
Oral therapy
Vacuum devices
Constriction bands
Counselling/sex therapy
Intracavernous injections
Intra-urethral medication
Topical therapy

THIRD-LINE TREATMENT
Vascular surgery
Prosthetic implant

for 6 months when it became clear that

the intervention group was receiving a
significantly more effective treatment. If the
pelvic floor exercise group had been followed
for > 6 months the results would have been
similar, provided that the men still performed
their pelvic floor exercises. The successful men

2005 BJU INTERNATIONAL

had a strong reason to continue exercising

their pelvic floor muscles.
This is the first time that an association has
been suggested between erectile dysfunction
and postmicturition dribble caused by pelvic
floor muscle weakness. It is possible that this
weakness could also be a cause of some types
of ejaculatory dysfunction.
The results of the present randomized,
controlled trial were compared with the
results of a large trial exploring the
effectiveness of sildenafil for men with
erectile dysfunction of similar (i.e. mixed)
causes [4]. A similar improvement was shown
in the erectile function domain of the IIEF in
both trials.
In conclusion, pelvic floor muscle exercises
should be considered as a first-line approach
for men seeking long-term resolution of
erectile dysfunction without acute
pharmacological and surgical interventions
that might have more significant side-effects.
Men demanding a quick fix or a pill for every
ill might prefer to restore normal muscle
function once they understand the important
role of the pelvic floor muscles. After routine
muscle testing at prostate and erectile
dysfunction clinics, men with weak pelvic
floor muscles might be more amenable to this
regimen. Men receiving other forms of
therapy for erectile dysfunction could be
advised to practise pelvic floor muscle
exercises in addition to the therapy

Dorey G. Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises for

Erectile Dysfunction and Post-Micturition
Dribble. London: Whurr Publishers Ltd
2003
Dorey G, Speakman M, Feneley R,
Swinkels A, Dunn C, Ewings P.
Randomised controlled trial of pelvic floor
muscle exercises and manometric
biofeedback for erectile dysfunction. Br J
General Pract 2004; 54: 81925
Dorey G, Speakman M, Feneley R,
Swinkels A, Dunn C, Ewings P. Pelvic
floor exercises for treating postmicturition dribble in men with erectile
dysfunction: a randomized controlled
trial. Urol Nurs 2004; 24: 4907
Goldstein I, Lue TF, Padma-Nathan H
et al. Oral sildenafil in the treatment of
erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil Study
Group. N Engl J Med 1998; 338: 1397
404
Dorey G, ed. Use It or Lose It! 2nd edn.
Oldham, Norfolk: NEEN Mobilis
Healthcare Group, 2001
Foreman K, Dorey G. Mens Health
Issues: Erectile Dysfunction and Postmicturition Dribble. Video available from
kevin.foreman@uwe.ac.uk

Correspondence: Professor Grace Dorey, The

Somerset Nuffield Hospital, Taunton, UK.
e-mail: grace.dorey@virgin.net
Abbreviations: IIEF, International Index of
Erectile Function
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